Vermont Bill Would Legalize Adult Possession and Home Grows

Vermont’s legislature is considering a bill that would legalize cannabis possession by adults and allow for home grows, the Associated Pressreports. The measure, H.170, is sponsored by Democrat state Representatives Maxine Grad and Charles Conquest, and Republican state Rep. Tom Burditt.

According to the bill text, all criminal and civil penalties for possession up to 1 ounce by adults 21 and older would be removed, and those 21 and older would be allowed to grow up to two mature, and seven immature, cannabis plants in their homes. The number of plants allowable under the scheme is not dependent on the number of adults living in a residence; however the 1 ounce limit would not include cannabis harvested from the plants so long as it remains on the premises where it is cultivated.

Additionally, the measure would outlaw cannabis extraction using butane or hexane by individuals, but allows medical cannabis dispensaries to continue using those gasses for extraction purposes. The bill provides penalties of two years imprisonment and fines up to $2,000 for violating the extraction order, and five years imprisonment with up to $5,000 fines if someone is injured as the result of an extraction accident.